Blog: Modell Doesn’t Belong In Football Hall Of Fame

BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 24: Art Modell, Previous owner of of the Baltimore Ravens comes onto the field for halftime celebrations of the ten year Super Bowl anniversary team during the game against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on October 24, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens lead the Bills at the half 24-20. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Art Modell BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 24: Art Modell, previous owner of of the Baltimore Ravens comes onto the field for halftime celebrations of the ten year Super Bowl anniversary team during the game against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on October 24, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Bills lead the Ravens at the half 24-20. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

By: Matt Dery

Art Modell has passed away today at the age of 87. The long-time owner of the Cleveland Browns and then Baltimore Ravens is no longer with us. Many NFL writers have hit the airwaves and twitter to give their thoughts and of course, there will be discussion and argument over Modell’s legacy now that he has died. Clevelanders, such as myself, know the real story.

Heck, Uncle Artie even admitted the truth many years ago that in 1995 he was going broke and moved the Browns out of Cleveland to save his own behind. Modell was a terrific owner and a pretty good businessman, but at that time, it was not going well for him. The team stunk, his facility was terrible, and Bill Belichick had basically taken the fan base and face-washed them into the turnbuckle. This was Modell’s doing. He was the boss and this was HIS TEAM. Instead of going to the fans of his proud franchise or to city and state leaders for help, Modell took his ball and escaped to Baltimore. New team, new stadium, and survival for him and his family. He lied, and then lied again and the NFL allowed it to happen. The league did bring the team back and the Browns were to have their history and colors, but it has never been the same.

Modell was the ultimate family-man and a true pioneer for the NFL. I get it. But today is not the day to turn his death into yet another Cleveland “Bashfest” or a day for certain Baltimore honks to defend what happened. These are the same people who wanted the Irsay family burned at the stake for taking the Colts out of their city in the middle of the night in 1984.

Modell does not belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in my opinion. A “Hall of Famer” does not move a franchise like the Cleveland Browns and take a team away from some of the best fans in the NFL. Nope. Below is an example of my twitter exchange with Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, who is a former Baltimore writer who was in that city in 1995 when Modell moved the team.

Ken Rosenthal‏@Ken_Rosenthal

RIP, Art Modell. Covered him in Baltimore, enjoyed the back-and-forth. Departure from Cleveland more complicated than portrayed.

Matt Dery‏@deryNBA

@Ken_Rosenthal Another Baltimore Slappy Alert

Ken Rosenthal‏@Ken_Rosenthal

@deryNBA Speak English?

Ken Rosenthal‏@Ken_Rosenthal

@deryNBA And evidently you didn’t read me in Baltimore.

Matt Dery‏@deryNBA

@Ken_Rosenthal Your original tweet about Uncle Artie appeared to defend him, no? If I’m off base, please tell me.

Ken Rosenthal‏@Ken_Rosenthal

@deryNBA Tweet was in plain English. Plenty of blame to go around. He deserved his share. So did Cleveland officials.

Matt Dery‏@deryNBA

@Ken_Rosenthal He admitted he was bankrupt years later! How is that the fault of Cleveland officials?

Ken Rosenthal‏@Ken_Rosenthal

@deryNBA I am not from Baltimore and no longer live there. Other teams in Cleveland got new facilities. That’s part of the story

Rosenthal is correct. The Indians and Cavs did get new facilities.

Trust me, if Modell needed a new stadium to survive and keep the team in Cleveland, HE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT!!! Wow. Imagine Mr. Ford taking the Lions out of Detroit. See, you can’t because he would never do that.